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RFF - 35 Odd Species of Grunts
By Robbie Wells
The sooty grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus), also known by the name black bream, or I like black jack because of its obvious ability as a sportfish. This species of fish inhabits coastal and inland freshwater creeks and rivers of primarily northern Australia; from the upper Burdekin River in Queensland to the Daly River in the Northern Territory.
What many aren't aware of is that there are one over 35 freshwater grunter species that inhabit Australia.
They are also located in the western catchment of Central Qld, from Mackay region southwest to Rockhampton west and small isolated pockets further southwest of the Bundaberg region.
The truths about how the sooties have come to inhabit the lower regions of Queensland are few and far between, however plenty of digging around has uncovered a theory that when the new highway was constructed and rerouted along the coast, large numbers of sooty grunter fingerlings were dispersed into the system, where they have flourished. Sooty grunter are now a regular and welcome by-catch when chasing wild southern Saratoga, which are native to the region. Further south, at about their most southern limit, the sooties are believed to have established a population through flooding and so forth from hatcheries and aquaculture facilities that were previously in the area.
Sooty grunter now inhabit a large area of Queensland and love flowing freshwater streams, preferring rapidly flowing waters with a rocky and sand bottom, with limited aquatic plant cover. They will live side by side in the same water as jungle perch, mangrove jack and barramundi, in the northern clear rainforest streams, and Saratoga and bass to the south. They also adapt to slower moving water and more rock bar and typical wood snag waterways with ease.
Although most specimens reach 25 to 30cm, in pristine conditions with a lack of accessibility and in turn fishing pressure, sizes of 35 to 45cm are easily achieved. Another bonus in sooty country, when fishing the western catchments, is by-catch. Besides the norm of catfish, Saratoga, etc., unfortunately an introduced species, tilapia, are also infiltrating our native waterways. If caught they must be disposed of above the high water mark and buried, as being mouth brooders birds and even recent rain can help spread this pest further afield.
Other by-catch includes a few species of the previously mentioned 35 grunter that are endemic to particular streams or even sections of river within that catchment, often dependant on food sources available through all stages of their life. For instance, the spotted grunter and small headed grunter or pot bellies are only endemic to the Burdekin catchment, while leathery grunter are found in certain stretches of the Isaac River. Long nosed grunter are endemic to the NT and WA top end catchments, Jabiru, etc., while khaki grunter are only found in isolated NQ streams. All are great fighters, with big paddle tails and they are often misidentified as a sooty or Barcoo grunter. Closer inspections and even fin counts can resolve that problem.
Cheers, Robbie